George Campbell Bio. Hancock County, WV ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** Submitted by: Valerie Crook The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 247 Hancock County GEORGE CAMPBELL. During a long, useful and active career George Campbell has applied himself to the vocation of agriculture with such good results that he is now ac- counted one of the substantial men of the Holliday's Cove community of Hancock County. He has brought to his work industry, energy, careful application of modern methods and intelligent management of the various depart- ments of farm work, and has thus developed a property as attractive as it is valuable. Also, while so doing he has gained and held the well wishes, esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. Mr. Campbell was born on the farm where he now lives, June 7, 1851, a son of Robert and Margaret (Purdy) Campbell, the latter a sister of James Purdy, the father of James A. Purdy, a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work. Robert Campbell was born Sep- tember 27, 1803, at Furnace Place on King's Creek, Han- cock County, a son of Alexander Campbell, who should not be confused with the old minister of that name, being not even of the same immediate family. Alexander Campbell was a son of James Campbell, a native of Scotland, who settled here about 1780, and it is thought that Alexander was born in this locality. James Campbell bought the old Tarr Furnace, which was the first west of the mountains, and at which much of the ammunition and cannons were manufactured for Commodore Perry on Fort Erie, as well as ammunition used by General Jackson at the memorable battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Alexander Campbell married Jane Bell, a neighbor girl, whose nephew, William Bell, still follows the vocation of collier in the same community. Following his marriage Mr. Campbell came to the "Hill," as a certain section is known, a part of which is included in the present farm of George Campbell and is located about one mile from Weirton. His father, James, then died, leaving him 500 acres of land in a tract that had been secured from the Government when Patrick Henry was governor of Virginia, and in addition to this Mr. Campbell also owned other lands, so that he was able to give farms to his five sons. Later he sold his remaining property and went to Illinois. His sons were: Alexander, who sold his farm, removed to Illinois, and died in the West; Archibald, who removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he died; David and Daniel, twins, the latter of whom also removed to the West and passed away there; and Robert. David and Robert, the only sons to remain, received the 500-acre farm with one sister, Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Casson and lived near Parkersburg, West Virginia. Polly, another sister, mar- ried Morris Baker and removed to Hardin County, Ohio, and a third sister. Patience, remained a maiden and died in old age at Steubenville, Ohio. David continued to live on his farm during the remainder of his life, and since his death the property has been sold. Robert Campbell, as before noted, secured a part of the 500-acre farm, on which he spent his entire married life, during which he added 165 acres to the property. This he gave to his eldest son, John P., who is now living in Arkansas at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Robert Campbell died at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, Margaret, having died when she was sixty-three years of age, in his declining years he married Alice Linduff, who survived him some years, without issue. By his first mar- riage he had the following children: John P.; Jane, who married Daniel Stansbury and died in Hancock County; Cyrus, who became a physician and surgeon and went to Missouri, where he practiced until his death; William, who removed to Missouri and died there; Elizabeth, who mar- ried Ephraim Evans and died on a farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania; James, who went to New Mexico as a prospector and miner and died there; Robert A., who followed carpentry at Chester, West Virginia, until his death; Julia, of Wellsville, Ohio, the widow of James Wright; Susanna, who married Francis Ralston and still resides in the Holliday's Cove neighborhood; George, of this notice; and Hiram T., a retired agriculturist now liv- ing at Holliday's Cove. George Campbell was reared on the old home place, attending the public schools, and some time after attaining his majority, in company with his brother, Hiram, he purchased the old farm. They continued to operate the property as partners for twelve years and then divided the land, George securing 150 acres. He sold a part of his coal when it was worth only one-half or one-third what it is today, but for the past several years has mined quite successfully, has received a comfortable income from his extensive orchards and has been prosperous in his work as a breeder of Poland China hogs. He has kept his business on the farm and has found fortune and contentment in his work. Mr. Campbell is a democrat, as has been the family for generations with the exception of two brothers. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church at Holli- day's Cove. At the age of twenty-four years Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Miss Alice Hammond, daughter of Wil- liam Hammond, an old-time teacher now living at the Cove. Mrs. Campbell became her father's housekeeper when she was fourteen years of age, and continued to act as such until she was married. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell: Charles L., a sketch of whose career will be found on another page of this work; Robert Elmer, of Holliday's Cove, formerly a teacher in the public schools but now a ear inspector on the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, married Bessie Brice and has three chil- dren, Robert Brice, Mary Brown and Kenneth; Walter Hammond, formerly a ear inspector on the Pennsylvania Railroad and now carrying on operations on a part of the home farm, married Ila Leonora Gilmore and has four children, Fred H., Walter B., Pauline Roberta and Vir- ginia Belle; and Jessie Agnes, the wife of David Dickie Mercer, of East Liverpool, Ohio, formerly a teacher, as was she, and later a machinist in the foundry, and now deceased, and they had two children, Alice M. and Walter.